Bengal and Delhi are battling for crucial points in the Ranji Trophy 2026-27 season, with their Elite Group C encounter at the Bengal Cricket Academy Ground in Kalyani heading towards a potentially decisive finish. Bengal have taken firm control of the contest after producing an impressive batting performance in their first innings and are now pushing hard for an outright victory. Leading their bowling charge, Akash Deep delivered a superb ball to dismiss Sarthak Ranjan, further strengthening Bengal’s position on Day 4.
Akash Deep dismisses Sarthak Ranjan with a beauty
Akash produced a moment of brilliance during Delhi’s second innings when he bowled Ranjan with a beautifully executed inswinger. The dismissal came off the fourth delivery of the eighth over, as the Bengal pacer demonstrated his ability to trouble batters with movement and accuracy.
Operating from over the wicket, Akash landed the delivery on a good length before getting it to swing sharply back into the right area. Ranjan was caught by surprise as the ball moved towards him, leaving a gap between his bat and pad. The delivery sneaked through that opening and crashed into the stumps, bringing his innings to an abrupt end.
It was an impressive display of fast bowling, with Akash combining control, movement and the right length to outsmart the batter. The delivery left little room for Ranjan to recover once the ball began swinging back in, making it a memorable wicket in the ongoing contest.
The dismissal also highlighted the threat posed by Bengal’s pace attack as the hosts continued their pursuit of a convincing victory. With Delhi already trailing significantly, every wicket in the second innings further increased the pressure on the visitors.
Here’s the video:
𝙐𝙣𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙮𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙙𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 🤌
🎥 Relive Akash Deep’s timber strike to dismiss Sarthak Ranjan 🔥#RanjiTrophy | @mflone_ pic.twitter.com/ravu4YOXNu
— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) October 14, 2026
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Bengal take command after massive first-innings total
Bengal established their dominance through an outstanding batting display, piling up 429 runs in their first innings. Sudip Kumar Gharami and wicketkeeper-batter Abishek Porel were the standout performers, registering centuries to put their team in a commanding position.
Gharami contributed 133 runs, while Porel played an equally influential knock of 149. Their substantial contributions provided Bengal with the foundation for a formidable total and ensured the hosts secured a significant advantage in the match. Delhi, meanwhile, struggled to match Bengal’s scoring effort and were dismissed for 240 in their first innings. The 189-run deficit left them with considerable work to do in their second innings to prevent Bengal from securing an outright win.
Bengal’s bowlers have an opportunity to complete the job after their team’s strong batting performance. Akash, Mohammed Shami, Mukesh Kumar and Pradipta Pramanik form a formidable attack capable of exploiting the conditions and putting sustained pressure on Delhi’s batting lineup. Delhi’s second-innings resistance has also been complicated by an injury concern involving Yash Dhull, who suffered a blow to the chest and retired hurt.
With Akash striking at a crucial stage, Bengal will be eager to maintain their momentum and claim the remaining wickets. A comprehensive victory would reward their all-round performance, while Delhi face a challenging task to extend the contest and avoid defeat in Kalyani.
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